RAJKOT: The office bearers of Rajkot branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday asked the civic body officials to discuss with them before taking any coercive steps while implementing the town planning and fire safety rules.
It has asked the RMC to act ‘sympathetically’ in case of nursing homes. It has also warned the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) of locking up smaller hospitals in the city if the the civic body starts sealing up of such hospitals over non-compliance of fire safety rules.
Following the fire incident in Uday Shivanand hospital where six patients lost their lives, the RMC issued notices to more than 300 hospitals asking them to adhere to fire safety norms within a stipulated period.
There are more than 500 private hospitals and nursing homes registered with IMA in Rajkot.
The doctors submitted a representation to the municipal commissioner in which they also stated that there are many nursing homes working in commercial complexes. While the nursing home concerned is ready to comply with all the rules, the other units of the building don’t comply with the rules, and the building doesn't get an NOC. In this case the nursing homes should not be punished.
Dr Jay Dhirwani, president of IMA Rajkot branch, told TOI, “We have asked the RMC to adopt a practical approach. There is a shortage of vendors and fire equipment so we want eight to 12 months’ time to fulfil all the required stipulations. It’s not possible in such a short period of time as the RMC has fixed.”
Dhirwani further said that the association will be compelled to lock up smaller hospitals by itself if the the RMC starts sealing hospitals as it doesn’t want the “stains of sealing on its forehead.”
Municipal commissioner Udit Agarwal, however, told TOI: “There won’t be any leniency in the rule.”
RMC had pasted seals on the doorstep of eight hospitals last week directing the managements to vacate the hospital as soon as the existing patients get discharged. They are also asked not to further examine new outdoor patients.
According to doctors it’s not possible for the hospital managements to make structural changes in the buildings. “There are many hospitals which are decades old, where building a second exit or an escape staircase is not possible. Some hospitals require to construct water tanks as per the new rules which is also not possible in such old buildings,” Dhirwani added.
“In this current Covid situation, not everybody can afford fees of corporate hospitals and the middle class people are in need of smaller nursing homes. At such a time, the RMC should consider the rules ‘sympathetically’ in the case of these nursing homes,” the representation also stated.